Transcript LDR 6 How to Increase Managerial Efficiency by Killing the

LDR 6 How to Increase Managerial Efficiency by
Killing the RFP
Presented by:
Jake Sherrill, Founder & CEO, Tier4Advisors
770-502-5107
[email protected]
www.tier4advisors.com
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LDR6
This session is designed to give IT professionals
permission to trash the old RFP strategy and
move into a more efficient way of doing business
and procuring services. The average project that
involves an RFP takes over 6 months. We’ll teach
you some simple steps to avoid the pitfalls and
time drain in dealing with vendors for your
colocation and cloud needs
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Grace Hopper - A pioneer in the field of programming
and United States Navy rear admiral (above captain)
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Why do we still write 50+ page RFP’s?
Background
Objectives and approach
Response format
Proposal summary
Purpose and scope
RFP instructions
Calendar
Guidelines and terms
Confidentiality
No commitments
Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc.
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If vendors skip over it, WHY waste time writing it?
Background – They’ll look at your website or already know about your
company.
Objectives and approach – Brief and to the point. 5-10 bullet points.
Response format – What is my cost per month for X?
Proposal summary – I’d say keep it brief and to the point, cut otherwise.
Purpose and scope – Brief and to the point. 5-10 bullet points.
RFP instructions – They won’t be followed anyways.
Calendar – Only the due date for the 1st pass response matters. Don’t limit
yourself.
Guidelines and terms – Don’t limit yourself.
Confidentiality clauses – NDA with all vendors before info is shared.
No commitments clauses – You’re only getting quotes.
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Is there a better way?
YES!
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What is necessary to get a colocation quote?
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Location – primary-secondary-international
Implementation timeframe
Cage, suite, or custom footprint size with metered power
Number of cabinets
Who’s supplying the cabinets
How many “U” of equipment do you have
Additional security requirements on cage
Roof rights or special access
Number and type of circuits (120V/220V, single or three phase)
Number and type of redundant circuits
Connector type (if other than standard NEMA)
Additional Needs such as Smart PDU in the Rack, etc.
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What is necessary to get network/bandwidth pricing?
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Committed and bursting need
Is blended bandwidth from the data center provider ok?
Third party network requirements? Who?
What type and how many cross connects are required?
Implementation timeframe
Target address if point to point or MPLS needs
Do you need public IP addresses
Is there anything from the provider that you would prefer to offload?
Do you need remote hands?
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What is necessary to get a “cloud” quote?
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Geographic specific
Secondary site needs? If so, where?
Implementation timeframe
Physical and virtual server diagram
Operating systems you’re running and supplying
Compliance requirements (HIPPA, PCI, etc.)
Active directory required?
Any clustered servers?
Server List and Main server specs (CPU, RAM, Storage)
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What is necessary to get a managed services quote?
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Remote hands – Number of hours?
Managed backup – Tape or SAN? Retention requirements?
Managed storage – How much?
Managed security – VPN/Firewall type?
Monitoring – What to monitor?
Specific professional certification requirements?
Additional managed services?
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Steps by day (conservatively less than 60 Days)
Start Date: Start with more than 3 but less than 10 providers depending on requirement
Start Date: Get NDA’s signed
Day 3: Send out a 5-10 page (max) “information document” to your initial group
Day 10: Host a 90 minute “bidders call” with all bidders and answer all questions bidders
have
Day 17: Set a deadline for “1st pass proposals” to come in
Day 24: Grade 1st pass proposals and down select to top 3 providers
Day 30 Schedule onsite presentations and/or data center tours with top 3
Day 35: Refine the down selected proposals and have a final SOW delivered
Day 42: Verify that all “sales guys promises” are accurate and vetted. Due diligence period
Day 50 – 60: Decide who the “winner” is internally and negotiate T&C’s, price, term, etc.
Do not announce publicly nor internally if you can help it. Things happen
Day 50 – 60: Sign the final MSA, addendum, BAA, SOW, proposal, etc.
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“Keep it Simple Stupid” -Unknown
Projects are not noticed if things go as planned but
they are noticed if things go wrong.
Why don’t we plan for the procurement?
We should. Plan to succeed!
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Questions?
Presented by:
Jake Sherrill, Founder & CEO, Tier4Advisors
770-502-5107
[email protected]
www.tier4advisors.com
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